Fifth-wheel



(No Model.)

H. W. RANSOM.

FIFTH WHEEL.

latented Nov. 13, 1888. I

N PETERS, Photo-Lithographer. Washington, D. C,

NITED STATES PATENT HIRAM \V. RANSOM, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,825. dated November 13, 1888.

Application filed October 29, 1887. Serial No. 253,602. No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM W. Ransom, a resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fifth- WVheels, of which the following is a specification.

The several features of my invention and the advantages arising from their use will be ap- [0 parent from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a front elevation of a. portion of an axle and head-block pro vided with my improved fifth-wheel. Fig. 2

is a top view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a section taken at the line m m, Fig. 1. Fig. t is a central vertical section of the axis.

The bar B is fitted to the under side of the head-block A, and is secured in position by any desirable means, preferably the clips C, whose ends pass through the lugs b, projecting from the bar B, and are bolted thereunder. The lug B projects rearwardly from the bar i i, and is provided with a central opening,

2 through which the king-bolt passes. Bars .1.) and Il similar to bar B, are secured to the upper and lower surfaces of the axle F, the means for securing them being preferably the clips G. The bars I) and E are, like the bar B, each provided with a rearwardly-projecting lug, (marked, respectively, in the drawings as D and E.) The lugs D and E each have an openingthrough which theking-boltpasses. The king-bolt H is attached to the rear face of the head-block. It is provided with a projecting arm or offset, 11, which throws it backward, thus bringing the axis of the filth-wheel somewhat behind the axle and head-block.

The fifth wheel proper consists of the upper 4c are, I, attached to the head-block, and is pref erably made integral with the bar B, and the lower are, I, is preferably made in two parts, as illustrated, and is attached to the axle. The upper are, I, is provided with a downwardly- 5 projecting flange, i, on its outer edge. The hcad-block is braced by both front and rear braces. The rear brace, J, is attached to the head-block in any desired manner, but preferably by being made integral with the bar B. The brace J curves backwardly and downwardly and is bolted to the perch K. The

front brace, L, is attached to the anterior face of the head-block, and projects forward, then downward, then backward, and is attached to the under surface of the perch. This brace partially surrounds the axle, and is sufficiently far from it to allow free play of the axle. The perch-brace M projects forwardly and upwardly and terminates under the lug D. The king-bolt passes through an opening in the end of the brace M. The brace M, by projecting only slightly upward and not reach ing above the top of the axle, makes the draft more directa feature of importance in a droppcrch vehicle. Between the brace M and the lug E the king-bolt is preferably protected by a surrounding ferrule, N. 1

As shown in Fig. 3, the king-bolt 11 passes through the lugs B D, brace M, ferrule N, lug E, and brace L, and there is preferably screwed to the lower end a nut, 71., although this last element is not necessary.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1.. The combination of a head-block and axle 7 5 respectively provided with fifth-wheel arcs, lugs B, D, and E, projecting rearwardly fromthe head-block and axle, respectively, king-bolt attached to the rear face of the head-block and projecting rearwardly therefrom, anterior encircling brace, and posterior perch-brace M, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination of a head-block and axle respectively provided with fifth-wheel arcs, lugs B, D, and E, projecting rearwardly from the head-block and axle, respectively, kingbolt attached to the rear face of the head-block and projecting rearwardly therefrom, anterior encircling brace, and posterior perch-brace M, projecting rearwardly from the king-bolt, and braceJ, projecting rearwardlyanddownwardly from the posterior portion of are I and attached to the porch, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination of a headblock and axle respectively provided with fifth-wheel arcs I and I, the upper are being provided with the flange 2', lugs B, D, and E, projecting rearwardly from the headblock and axle, respectively, king-bolt attached to the rear face of the head-block and projecting rearwardly therefrom, anterior encircling brace, and posterior perch-brace M, projecting rearwardly from the I J extending from the ends of the are I d0wnking-bolt, and brace J, projecting rearwardly ward and backward, substantially as and for and downwardly from the posterior portion of the purposes specified.

are I and attached to the perch, substantially HIRAM W'. RANSOM. 5 as and for the purposes specified. Attest:

4:. The combination of fifth-wheel are I, bar W. P. GULIOK, B, and brace J, made in one piece, the brace i GERTRUDE GULIOK. 

